Thackerays are in trouble: BJP leader Narayan Rane

Narayan Rane

Union minister Narayan Rane says his Juhu bungalow was inspected for unauthorised construction thrice before, but no irregularities were found. He was referring to the BMC's visit to his home on Friday to verify alleged violation of coastal regulations. He alleged that the latest action from the BMC was prompted by the Shiv Sena's boss, whose new residence in Kalanagar was constructed illegally, but regularised later.

He claimed at a media conference on Saturday that CM Uddhav Thackeray's new home in Kalanagar, also known as Matoshree-2, was unauthorised but regularised by paying penalty during the erstwhile BJP-Sena government. He said he had the plans of both the old and new Matoshree. "Our architects are the same. The work on my Juhu residence started when Balasaheb Thackeray was there. We've been living here since 2009. I have no objection to the BMC's inspection. They can come back," he said, adding that the BMC should inspect other buildings as well.

‘Sushant, Salian were killed'

During the press conference, Rane reiterated that actor Sushant Singh was killed because he knew who raped and murdered his former manager Disha Salian. "Disha was raped and killed. The police team meant to protect a state minister who was present when it happened. The minister's car was there and an ambulance of a specific service provider was summoned to ferry the body," he alleged.

Rane accused the suspects of destroying evidence of Salian's murder. "CCTV cameras were removed and footage destroyed. The pages of building's entry register were destroyed. Some police officers know about the murder and they too, will come out soon," he further claimed.

"Sushant was killed because he had said he won't spare his friend Salian's killers," the minister alleged, adding that some people were sent to his home where he was murdered. He said that Disha's postmortem report was still pending, and that the "murder" cases will be reopened because they were not yet closed.

ED notices for Thackerays?

Meanwhile, he said that four members of the Thackeray family will soon get notices from the Enforcement Directorate. He said on Saturday that the offences (to be probed) were similar to the one registered against state minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who spent over two years in jail.

He alleged that the people he was talking about had partnership in 28 companies, one of which worked for the city building repairs board. "Of the four persons, three are from Matoshree and one a relative." Rane claimed there will be many exposes if Sachin Waze becomes an approver in the cases now being probed.

He claimed he was dragged into the illegal construction issue to divert the attention from the CM's inability to run the government. "History will take note that there was a CM who did not (physically) attend Cabinet meetings, take part in legislature business and work from Mantralaya."

‘Sena is your baap'

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday lashed out at Rane, asking the BJP leader to "stop giving threats". "Narayan Rane is threatening that he has our horoscope. Stop giving threats. We too have your horoscope. You might be Union Minister but this is Maharashtra. Don't forget this. We are your ‘baap', you very well know what that means," the Rajya Sabha MP said. The Sena on Saturday also said the party leaders will meet Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil to demand reopening of murder cases in Sindhudurg district, the home district of Rane. In a veiled reference to Rane, Shiv Sena MP from the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency and party spokesperson Vinayak Raut said that all of Maharashtra is aware who has a history of crime and extortion.